Shower head



July 6 A. A. HUTCHINSON 2,945,631

7 SHOWER HEAD Filed Feb. 15, 1957 J2 J3 PM g I 14 Mm: t I 5 H J 3 2 2.1 H E2: 1 3 4-", 5 5

I fir 3 J7 a 5 7 I! I .15, V J 8 1:7" I 9 ags-- I 6 :g? J6 37 I Ji'adenjon United States Patent SHOWER HEAD Alfred A. Hutchinson, 709 N. Central Ave., Chicago, 1]].

Filed Feb. 15, 1957, Ser. No. 640,526

1 Claim. (Cl. 23 9-548) The invention relates generally to a fluid discharge nozzle construction and more particularly to a spray nozzle for showers and the like.

The present invention is particularly directed to v a shower head nozzle or the like which will substantially eliminate sharp or rapid changes in the temperature of the water being. discharged therefrom. It is a common experience, when taking a shower, after adjustment of the temperature of the water to that desired, to suddenly have the water turn hot or cold, which not only is annoying but in the case of exceedingly hot water may result in dangerous burns. Such changes in temperature usually result from a reduction in water pressure of either the hot or cold water, as for example, a reduction in cold water pressure resulting from the flushing of a toilet or other use of cold water at a remote point in the local water system, or in like manner, the use of hot water at some other point in the system may result in a reduced hot water pressure at the shower head with a change of temperature resulting from the drop in flow in the particular Water line affected. It is believed obvious that a number of solutions could be employed in correcting this situation, as, for example, thermostatically controlled valves which once set would maintain a uniform temperature in the fluid discharged. However, while such a solution obviously would perform the desired function, the cost thereof would be generally prohibitive.

The present invention therefore has among its objects the production of a shower head structure which will tend to counteract sharp changes in the temperature of the water being discharged therefrom, and at the same time utilizing a very simple inexpensive construction which makes the use thereof practical and at a reasonable commercial cost.

Another object of the invention is the production of such a structure which preferably has no moving parts therein and consequently is foolproof and dependable.

A further object of the invention is the production of such a shower head structure which will accomplish the I desired results and at the same time will harmonize with I the other plumbing fixtures.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein given. To

this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings wherein like reference characters indicate like or corresponding parts:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a shower head embodying the present invention, with portions thereof away on an axial plane to show details of construction;

Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view taken approximately on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the deflector or baflie member employed in the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2; and

Patented July 19, 1960 Fig. 4 is a view similar to Fig. 1 of the upper portion of a modified form of construction.

The present invention contemplates the use of a structure in which a delay is introduced in the flow of fluid from its entrance into the shower head to its discharge therefrom, and to provide for a heat interchange to temper the water whereby the sharpness or rapidity of any change is diminished in the fluid discharged from the device. In the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated, this is accomplished by providing the head with a comparatively large fluid reservoir, together with means for intermixing the fluid entering the reservoir with that in the same, with the amount of liquid in the reservoir and the heat retained by the device itself being suflicient to temper any rapid change in temperature of the incoming water.

Referring to the drawing, and particularly to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the reference numeral 1 indicates generally a hollow body member having a cylindrical side wall portion 2, and respective top and bottom closure members 3 and 4 therefor, each of which, in the embodiment of the invention illustrated, is formed as individual members having cylindrical flanges 5, having external threads 6 thereon adapted to co-operate with internal threads 7 on the cylindrical member 2. To provide a fluid-tight juncture between the respective members 2,. 3 and 4, gaskets 8 of suitable material may be interposed between the end edges 9 of the tubular member 2 and the opposed flanges 11 of the top and bottom members 3-4.

The top member 3 is provided with a suitable connection 12 by means of which the same may be attached to a fluid line, the connection 12 preferably including a ball or swivel connection 13 and cap ring 14 of common construction which may be threaded onto the stem or shank 15 of the member 3, with the stem 15 having a discharge opening 16 into the reservoir 1. Mounted within the reservoir is an agitator or mixing member indicated generally by the numeral 17, provided with a tongue-shaped provide a fine spray effect in the fluid discharge therefrom,

and one or more openings 26-27 which may be of a size and so located that rapid drainage will be achieved following use of the device.

It will be noted from a reference to Fig. 1 of the drawing that the proportions of the body member 1 are such that the Width or diameter thereof is approximately between five and six times the diameter of the inlet 16, while the axial length of the body member is approximately eight times the diameter of the inlet.

It'will be appreciated that, when in use, thereservoir 1 will fill up with water following which a suitable spray will be discharged therefrom, with the entering water being well mixed with the water in the reservoir due to the action of the member 18 positioned adjacent the inlet opening 16.

Assuming that the temperature of the water has been suitably regulated by individual mixing valves in the hot and cold lines communicating with the head, in the event of a sudden change in temperature of the incoming fluid, resulting from a decrease in pressure or the like in either the hot or cold water lines, such incoming water will be intermixed with that already in the reservoir and such 3 mixture will then be discharged therefrom, and while there will, of course, be some change in temperature from that prior to the initial change, a tempering effect will be achieved whereby a very rapid or suddenchange in temperatureof water striking the body iOf the user wilInot take place. The user is thus forewarned of'changes in temperature before the latter can reach an uncomfortable degree and oftentimes where the change is temporary, the tempering action is sufiicient'to eliminate anydiscomfort.

It will be appreciated that the tempering action is generally elfected by two things, first-the quantity of liquid in the reservoir 1, and secondly-the character of the material forming the same; thus, if the reservoir is so constructed that the material forming the same will have a comparatively large inertia factor with respect to changes in temperature, heat transfer between the incoming'water and the reservoir body will provide a tempering action in addition to that resulting from the intermixing of fluid, and in the event the reservoir is so constructed as to-provide a relatively large amount of heat interchange, the size of the reservoir may be accordingly reduced. On the other hand, if the reservoir'structure has relatively little heat interchange value, the size of the reservoir may be accordingly increased with the ultimate structure being so proportioned as to provide a desired degree of tempering action in the discharged fluid. It will be appreciated that while numerous nozzles, including shower heads have heretofore been constructed, many of which have an enlarged head structure, the latter generally havebeen so designed to provide a larger spray pattern, baflle means oftentimes being employed to suitably distribute the water or liquid throughout the head or nozzle. While such structures may at first glance appear to be very similar to the head herein described, obviously such structures will not provide the tempering functions of the present invention. In this connection it will be noted that the member 18 is not designed to merely baflle the inlet-opening 16 and distribute theincoming liquid as in the case of prior nozzles. It is primarily constructed of a size and shape to provide an impinging surface which will re sult in'a churning or intermixing action to effectively mix the incoming liquid with that in the reservoir.

It will be appreciated that while I have illustrated'in Figs. 1 and 2, a construction wherein the member 17 is formed as a separate piece attached to the top member 3 by a nut 24, if desired, the member 17 may be suitably formed as an integral part of the top member 3. Such a construction is illustrated in Fig. 4, wherein the member 17 comprises merely a transversely extending portidnl-S' and a connecting portion 21', all of which are integrally formed with the top member 3. In such case the threaded nipple 23 may be eliminated, as illustrated in Fig. 4. Obviously, this construction will function in a manner similar to that heretofore described.

It will be apparent from the above disclosure that while I have illustrated the stem as beingintegrally formed with the top member 3, in some cases it may be desirable to form the member 15 and nipple 23 as a single piece adapted to be inserted in an opening in the top member 3 and secured thereto by the nut 24, in which case a suitable gasket would be interposed therebetween to provide a fluid-tight joint.

It will be noted from the above disclosure that I have provided a shower head which is so-designed that changes in the temperature of the water discharged therefrom at a suflicient rate to cause an uncomfortable effect, is substantially, completely eliminated; the device at the same time being extremely simple, having no moving parts to jam or get out of order and which is so designed that it may be readily fabricated from materials as for example brass or bronze which will be durable and at the same time permit manufacture and sale of the device at a comparatively low price.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the 'samewithout departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish-to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein" shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

a In a temperature-control device for bath showers and the like, the combination of an elongated generally cylindrical hollow body member having a generally circular inlet and an outlet therein, said cylindrical hollow body member having an internal diameter of at least substantially five times the diameter of the circular inlet and having an internal axial length of at least eight times the diameter of the'circular inlet to provide, under normal water flow through the cylindrical hollow body member, -a heat reservoir for water passing therethrough, said cylindrical hollow body member being formed as a cylindrical tubular member having open ends, which are closed 'by respective top and bottom closure members, detachable means complementally formed to the top closure member and upper open end of the elongated cylindrical hollow body member for detachably connecting the cylindrical elongated hollow body member to the top closure member, second detachable means complementally formed on the'bottom closure member and the lower -open end of said cylindrical hollow body member for detachably connecting the bottom closure member to the cylindrical hollow body member, said outlet comprising a plurality of small openings, agitator means comprising a cantilever-shaped'member operatively connected to said top closure member, said cantilever-shaped member including a tongue-shaped deflector portion and a connecting portion depending from and operatively affixed to the top closure member and to the tongue-shaped'deflector'portion, said tongue-shaped deflector portion axially and longitudinally spaced from the inlet and substantially concentrically spaced with respect to said cylindrical side wall of the elongated cylindrical hollow body mem- -ber, said tongue-shaped deflector portion also intersecting the axis of the inlet along a diameter of the elongated cylindrical hollow body member transverse to the axis r thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,295,250 Yeiser Feb. 25, 1919 1,981,948 Darling Nov. 27, 1934 2,256,729 Thompson Sept. 23, 1941 FOREIGN PATENTS 23,070 Switzerland May 4, 1901 

